9 weeks

Caroline turned 2 months old on Friday and is 9 weeks today! The time keeps getting faster and faster and the days fly by! Happy 9 weeks sweet, sweet girl - we love you SO much!

July 17, 2011

Here are some memories from week nine:

• You have had the best week of your life this past week, hands down! Every day was a good day! You ate well, you slept well and you screamed much, much less. We are THRILLED! You have always been a joy, but this past week has been super duper joyous with a newborn that doesn't scream several hours a day. We are praying we're over the hump. Colic, Colic go away.....
  
• You've learned to cope better with your tummy issues - we're still taking Zantac once a day and probiotics every day.
  
• You and Mommy started jogging this week - yay!! We hope to keep it up! And our friends Amanda and sweet Mr. Archer (3 weeks old) have started joining us on walks!
• you're now nursing up to 15 minutes on each side - sometimes more, sometimes less, but for several weeks it was just a struggle to get you to 8-10 minutes
• Since you're eating better, you're still sleeping like a ROCK STAR! You've slept over 8 hours and up to 10 hours every night this past week .... you go girl:)
• you like to play on your play mat and kick at some of the hanging toys
  
• your cooing and talking has increased
  
• on our two ventures out this week you were alert and awake for most of one without crying and slept through the other one - seems like you've learned we are constantly on the go and you're dealing with it!
• you've been to the splash pad and pool twice now and have slept through each visit while your big sister squealed and played with delight
• you've discovered you have a tongue
• we took the pink ribbon down today - bittersweet!

A little sister love ...

Catherine Ellis -27 months, Caroline - 9 weeks

Mama, Caroline and the infamous pink bow :)

More sisterly love after a photo shoot - Caroline needed some comforting and CE is always there to lend a hand - sweet sisters!

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
~ Numbers 6:24-26

Splish Splash

Love affair with water - it's a popular Brad Paisley song right now and it describes Catherine Ellis's feelings perfectly! This sweet child loves her some water. Every Friday at school is water day - they arrive in their swimsuits, lathered in sunscreen and ready to play outside in some sort of water activity - I feel safe saying it's her favorite day of the week - just because of the water.

One of the things I'm trying to take advantage of while on leave from work is spending quality time with the girls. Caroline and I get hours and hours of quality time - Catherine Ellis and I do not. So I've started either letting her stay home with me one day a week or picking her up early from school and doing a fun play date with friends - it's been a hit with all of us! We've had such a good time playing with friends and doing fun things that we'd probably not get to do otherwise!

So this Friday we joined our good friends the Byars at the splash pad in Gardendale - this is Catherine Ellis's new favorite place on earth:) She had a BLAST! The minute we walked through the opening to the splash pad she started squealing and running and never looked back. We were there for a good hour and a half and I had to talk her into leaving. I have a feeling we'll be back soon! It was the perfect afternoon - only a few other families there - so we had plenty of room and Caroline and I had our pick of shady spots under the pavilion within view of Catherine Ellis.

Amazed by all the water ...

Running under the water ...

Playing with the Byars family

She's a real pro with the water gun - kind of scary :)

Getting a soaking from the water rings ...

Planning her next move

Running wild

The infamous splash pad

She discovered how to sit on top of the water spout

oops - moved a bit too much

The one time I got her to stop long enough to look at me

Sweet sister chilling in the shade

Stomping on the water

Carrying water and throwing it down the drain - this kept her busy for an hour

Playing with sweet baby Z

And last a little video of Catherine Ellis and sweet Z playing together - she is so good with babies and loves them - we are lucky indeed!

8 weeks

Sweet Caroline is 8 weeks old - and will be 2 months on Friday! She is growing like a weed and changing so fast! She's starting to be awake a lot more during the day and interact - so fun to listen to her 'talk' and take in the world around her!

July 10, 2011 - 8 weeks old

I've got one more month left at home with this sweet girl and I'm trying to soak it all in - I know I'll never get this time with her again and one day she'll be as big as Catherine Ellis and not want to be held, rocked, etc. What a sweet time!

Here are some things she's up to at 8 weeks:

• you are sleeping like a ROCK STAR (deserving of all caps!) at night! This past week you went 5 hours the first night, then 8 hours, 7 hours, 9 hours the next two nights and last night 10 hours between feedings! You go girl! It has been so nice to be able to sleep at night. You really have been a dream at night from the beginning - I guess I better knock on wood since I'm announced this out loud :)
• you are getting so big - we think you probably weigh 11 lbs - we'll know next week for sure when we head to the doctor for your two month check up
• the colic is better - it's not every day that you're screaming and hysterical - and you have 2-4 good days a week now. Rocking helps, bouncing helps, the swing helps and getting out of the house helps.
  
• smiling progress: you're almost there - we saw a hint of one on Friday - any day now (at least we're hoping!!)
• our morning walks are still going well - you typically stay awake now for about the first 15-20 minutes and sleep the last 20 or so. Sometimes you will sleep the entire walk, just depends on when we head out.
• you are alert and awake much more these days - I think we're getting into a routine of you rising and eating and then playing for 30-40 minutes and then sleeping anywhere from 30 minutes t0 2 hours. You seem to be getting into a routine (I use that loosely) of a good long nap mid-morning going down between 10-11 a.m. and then another really good mid-afternoon/early evening nap somewhere between 3-4 p.m.
  
• you are sleeping in your crib for naps again!! Not all of them - but I do try to get you down in your crib at these those 2 big nap times mid-morning and mid-afternoon. You don't always go down and stay down, but you're at least back to sleeping in your crib during the day. 2 weeks ago we could only get you to sleep in the swing.
• you're on probiotics for your tummy and they seem to be helping. You've also been to the pediatric chiropractor twice now and are still taking Zantac once a day. Who knows if any of this is working - but your spells are better and we'll take it!
• you are losing what little hair you had - you still have a good bit on the sides in the back, but the front and top of your head is almost bald. Sweet bald head!

Seems like she's looking right at me ... think it was the flash :)

Sweet face!

Precious leg rolls/creases and tiny feet/toes

Delicate hands and long little fingers

Waving bye-bye (and ready for Mommy to be done with the photo shoot)

And the child grew and became strong in spirit ...
~ Luke 1:80

27 Months

We are quickly approaching 2 1/2 years! Today Catherine Ellis is 27 months old. Catherine Ellis is a full-throttle two-year old - there is no doubt about it! I think it's also safe to say we're experiencing some of the terrible twos as well - it's a struggle for her because she wants to be so independent and such a big girl, but the reality of life is that she's only two!! She thinks she is two going on 25!! We've certainly got our hands full with the sweet child and we couldn't be happier about it!

July 9, 2011

At 27 months here are some of the wonderful things we are experiencing and you are learning about the world:

• you talk in complete sentences now; you can communicate your feelings, thoughts, opinions, anything verbally. You can repeat EVERYTHING someone else says.
• you can count to 15 easily
• you know all of your primary colors: red, blue, yellow, green, pink, brown
• you love to color - still haven't colored on anything but paper but that's only because we watch you like a hawk - oh wait there was that one time you colored with a sharpie on Mommy's leather passenger seat - lovely:)
  
• you're a super duper fabulous big sister - you are so helpful with your sister and love being with her! For this we are very thankful!
• you play well with other children - you haven't met a stranger yet
• you still love being outside, even if it's 100 degrees and it is frequently these days
• you love your 'new car' and can pick it out in a parking lot no matter how many other cars are there
• you love school, your teachers and your play mates
• reading is still a favorite - you've memorized several books and frequently like to read to Mommy and Daddy and now days baby sister
• you LOVE your baby dolls, they go with you everywhere and do many of the things your baby sister does
• you like grocery shopping at Publix - I think mainly because you get a free cookie - a girl after my own heart:)
• you will eat just about anything - still love fruits and veggies and chicken and pizza
• you sleep well - you go to bed around 7:30-8:00 and rise at 7:00-7:15 during the weekdays and sometimes after 8-9 a.m. on the weekends
• you love riding in the stroller and going for walks
• you are a diva - Hollywood watch out
• dance parities make your day - and your parents
  
• bossy, bossy, bossy
• well behaved for the most part - in public you are typically very well-behaved, at home you have your moments, but you're allowed!
• you have the memory of a historian - you hear it once and you never forget it!
  
• developmentally you are making leaps and bounds at school and we are so proud!

This morning Catherine Ellis was in a super silly mood - so we've had a lot of fun today! She and I ran errands all by ourselves this morning and it was so nice to spend some alone time just us! We went to Pepper Place Market to get some of the fruits and veggies she loves so much - she was in charge of the money - and all business:) Then we headed to Publix - which she loves because not only does she get to drive the cart, but gets a cookie too!

Silly girl!

Excited about her free cookie at Publix

My money handler - look at that serious business face :)

And here she is with her sweet sister this morning - they often sit together while Catherine Ellis teaches Caroline all about the world ... Caroline is usually pretty compliant but not this morning - she did not want to hear what Catherine Ellis was preaching:

Telling baby sister all about throwing a ball

Sweet little sister was not having it, but Catherine Ellis kindly gave her her ball in hopes she would stop crying ...

Holiday weekend: Family Style

We had a great long weekend over the 4th - lots of good quality time together! It's always so nice to have Daddy at home with us - not just for the extra set of hands (priceless), but because he's so much fun! We did lots of fun things over the weekend like visit Pepper Place Farmer's Market for the first time this summer, several family dance parties - even Caroline got in on one, some play time in Mommy and Daddy's bed in the mornings, and some pool time! Yay for long weekends!

Early morning hang out

"Evrrybody get under the covers Daddy" ... says Catherine Ellis

We headed to the pool on the fourth - it was our first pool outing of the summer - I know we're a little behind:) Catherine Ellis had a blast - started out in the baby pool and then graduated to the big pool. She spent much of the time in the water trying to convince us that she could swim on her own - she didn't want us to hold her - and we've not invested in arm floaties yet - needless to say she was a force to be reconciled with!! She did spend a lot of time 'swimming' with her Daddy and he showed her some swimming techniques - she was excited about that. Meanwhile, sweet Caroline and I hung out under the shade and fans and took in all the excitement - it wore Caroline out!

Swimming in the big pool

Having a ball - her mouth was wide open most of the time - she swallowed half the pool :)

All this fun is making me sleepy ....

Trying to float on her back ...

Taking a little siesta at the pool ....

Taking a break from swimming, but never from supervising .... always the watchful eye

And last, but not least a glimpse of our dance parties family style - even Caroline got in on this one! Catherine Ellis LOVES Taylor Swift's new song "Mean" - we've heard it at least 200 times by now (thank you David!!):

And a parting picture of two sweet sisters getting ready for bed:

7 weeks

Caroline is 7 weeks! My maternity leave is flying by and I can't believe it's half way through. We've had a good week this past week and many things seem to be improving for sweet Caroline. As with all of us, it just takes time to adjust to the real world! Bless her heart! She's certainly been a trooper in joining our crazy little family - she makes us complete!

July 3, 2011 - 7 weeks

Here are some things sweet girl is up to these days:

• the colic seems to have reached its peak - week 6 was a rough one for you, but week 7 has been much better to you ... you seem to have learned how to cope a little better and Mommy and Daddy are learning how to soothe you a bit better a well
• you are almost smiling - not a full smile, but you certainly are close!
• you are making more sounds - oohing, ahhing a bit
• your awake time is increasing - after eating you are wake now about 45 minutes before you are ready to sleep
• you do not want to sleep in your crib during the day - you've been fighting this since week 5 - Mommy is going to work with you this week to try to get you back to your crib at least once or twice a day
• you love sleeping in the swing - can I get a loud AMEN for whoever invented baby swings??? Thank you Jesus!
• you're still eating well - fussy at times, but not near what you were. You're eating 6-7 times a day.
• you are still super good to us at night - your stretches are now averaging between 6-8 hours the first stretch and then 3-4 hours the next. Your last feeding is between 8-9 p.m. most nights and your first morning feeding is typically somewhere between 5-7 a.m. I typically only have to feed you once in the middle of the night - somewhere between 2-4 a.m.
  
• you continue to fight the swaddle - bless you - but it sure helps you sleep at night!
• you are starting to calm yourself enough to fall asleep during the day sometimes on your own for about 10 minutes - this is huge for you!
• you can follow me with your eyes and turn your head a bit when I walk away from you
• you can hold up your head fairly well for a few seconds and then it comes crashing down
  

We sure love you sweet, sweet girl! Thank you for adding joy to our family - our life certainly wouldn't be the same without you!

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
~ John 1:16

Joy ...

David and I celebrated 5 years of marriage yesterday - 5 years of life that have been better together than they would have been apart. Joy - pure joy - is what I think describes the past 5 years - don't get me wrong, we've certainly had our share of sorrow, hard times, bumps in the road and life getting us down from time to time - however, the joy outweighs it all.


I remember like yesterday the day I met David - he was SO nice to me (and cute!!). The kind of guy that everyone likes - a great personality, a great sense of humor and the epitome of nice guy. We were great friends for a year before we started dating ... I think the foundation of a friendship is what gets us through the hard times - love is good, you need it, but a strong foundation that is built on faith with God in the center of our lives plus a great friendship are two things that have certainly bode us well these past 9 years that we've known each other ..... time really does fly when you're having fun.

I loved our wedding - there are days I want to go back and live through it all over again - it was so much fun to have the merging of all of our friends and family to share in our love and joy during one special weekend. Thank you to those friends and families who are still huge parts of our lives for supporting us, praying for us and sharing in our joys (and sorrows)! I now know it takes a village to raise children, but it also takes a village to keep a marriage together - communities of faith, friends, family and loved ones to keep us accountable, remind us of the good and see us through the bad.

God has richly blessed us and we have two precious children to show for our love too - it's a whirlwind most days, but there is no one else on earth I'd rather live my life with or stand beside when the going gets tough. Thank you Bay for loving me! Here's to many, many more anniversaries!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12